Marketers seek open market after exclusion from NNPC’s deal with Dangote Refinery

Following the recent deal making NNPC Limited the sole off-taker of petrol from Dangote Refinery, independent marketers may be forced to resort to fuel importation to stay in business.

With this development, many marketers have called on the Federal Government to fully open up the petroleum sector to ensure a level playing field for all players.

Reports from Abuja show that, three days after NNPC began loading petrol from Dangote Refinery, many filling stations have yet to receive any supply.

This has further heightened concerns among independent marketers about their role in the fuel supply chain.

The Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Chinedu Ukadike, revealed that the group is now considering importing petrol themselves to ensure continuity in their business operations.

Marketers argue that without an open market, they may face significant challenges in accessing petrol at competitive rates, leaving them dependent on NNPC’s control of the Dangote Refinery supply.

“There has been no progress in the situation. We have been waiting for NNPC and nothing has changed. We have information that at least three marketers are bringing in products from outside of the country. This is Dangote’s chance to work with independent marketers.

“We are asking Dangote to sell to us at the same price as NNPC. We don’t understand why he has to depend solely on NNPC to distribute its product when he has other willing buyers.

“We are also looking at importing to keep our business. We are also asking the Federal Government to also hand over the Port Harcourt Refinery to independent marketers. We will engage capable people to manage it. That is the only panacea to this problem,” he added.